Making Better Use of Your Access Control System

Posted in Products, Security Tips
Image of a man holding a phone with the Sensor Access logo - making better use of access control systems

 

Within an access control system, there are often many features and capabilities which are overlooked or that people are unaware of. These features can often increase the security and efficiency of the system. Below are a couple example features which can be used in our GuardPoint Pro system.

Automatic-Emailing

One of the many benefits of our GuardPoint Pro software is its versatile capacity to adapt to various different needs and requirements. There are many features within our access control solutions which often get overlooked, such as our auto-emailing feature.

Key Benefits:

  • Would you like to be notified when a specific person arrives in your building? Our access control software allows you to send emails triggered by any type of transaction. For instance: a visitor arrives and an email is sent to a specific person to notify them.
  • Wouldn’t it be useful to have your access control report emailed directly to you? Many different types of reports in GuardPoint Pro can be automatically generated. For example: a list of people in the building could be sent to you every morning.
  • Do you wish to be immediately notified straight to your phone when an alarm occurs? By using an email-to-SMS service, notifications can be sent directly to your phone, informing you on specific alarm and access events.

Instructions on setting up auto-emailing in GuardPoint Pro can be found here


Automatic Inhibition

Automatic inhibition is also a useful feature on big and busy systems. If a card has not been used for a certain period of time, it will automatically become invalid after a set number of days. This feature is useful as it will automatically block cards that have been lost, yet unreported, to the administrator. This feature is especially useful on diverse systems where it can sometimes be difficult to tell whether employees still exist or have left the company etc. This avoids human error on managing the live card population, therefore increasing the security of the system.

 

Man on computer using GuardPoint Pro - making better use of your access control system
Figure 1: image showing utilisation of our GuardPoint Pro software

For further information on the features above, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you

Sensor Integration with Thyssen Lifts

Posted in Case Studies, Events, News, Products

Image of men walking down a corridor adjacent to lifts, with the Sensor and Thyssen logos seen at the bottom of the image

Sensor Access has developed a way of integrating the new generation of smart lifts made by Thyssen. The Thyssen lifts incorporate a new feature called destination control. Lift destination control systems offer improvements that can help speed up travel times and improve efficiency.


How it works

Our new development incorporates access control integration –  customers can restrict access to the cardholder via time schedules and particular floors or destinations. For example: one user can be assigned access to only the ground floor and third floor from Monday to Friday. The operation is such that the cardholder swipes their card on the lift reader which in turn displays only the floors the user has been granted access to on the lift floor selection panel.


The Operation in GuardPoint Pro

To operate the Thyssen Lift Integration, the badge holder swipes a badge at the access control reader located outside of the lifts. The user then chooses their desired destination on the input panel from the displayed list of authorised floors. They are then directed to a lift based on availability, efficiency of the system and grouping of people travelling to the same level. The lift then takes the user to their destination without the user having to touch any other button.

 

Figure 1: image of GuardPoint Pro and Thyssen software compatibility

There is now a new option of choosing Thyssen lifts when selecting a lift controller in GuardPointPro.


Case Study: Paris 

This integration with smart lifts is operational in a 10-floor office building in the centre of Paris. This site is equipped with five lifts from the Thyssen company. There are 20 Thyssen destination selectors equipped with badge readers, two on each floor.


Find out more

If you require any further information on the Thyssen software integration or wish to find out more, please contact us on either of the following:

Tel: +44 (0)1273 242355

Email: sales@sensoraccess.co.uk

GuardPoint Pro Advanced Features – Mantrap

Posted in Products, Security Tips

Image of three lifts, occupied by two men in a lobby. The Sensor Access and GuardPoint Pro logos are located at the bottom of the image too

A mantrap is an access control feature which provides high security measures for a designated area with two or more doors. Mantraps are used in secure areas to effectively detain unauthorized personnel. This design is typical of high security locations such as banks and hospitals.

In simple: a mantrap requires personnel to enter through the first door of the assigned location – while the other doors remain closed – before they are granted access at the second door.


Key Benefits 

  • Difficulty of forcibly gaining entry
  • Evaluates personnel in the mantrap before releasing them through the second door
  • Allows entry of only one person at a time
  • Helps to prevent tail gating

How it works 

A mantrap consists of two or more doors – a perimeter door and an interior door closest to the protected area. The perimeter door and the interior door must be equipped with locks, door sensors, and readers. Access is granted either through the reader or through its RTX button, and the door status is given by the defined door contact. Second access cannot be granted from the reader until the previous door is opened and then closed. This security process allows only one single door to be open at a time, so once access has been granted to the first door, the outside door remains locked.

Image showing a diagram of an example mantrap, demonstrating 3 selected doors connected through the mantrap software

Figure 1: image of an example mantrap


Set-up

The mantrap feature is standard in all versions of the GuardPoint Pro Software. A standard door controller which supports two or more doors is all that is required, no additional hardware needed. GuardPoint Pro also has the flexibility of harbouring different variations of the standard mantrap. For instance the second door can automatically open after the first door is closed or the second door could require additional acknowledgement from an input before opening.


Find Out More

If you have a mantrap requirement or wish to find out more please contact us on either of the following:

Tel:  +44 (0)1273 242355

Email: sales@sensoraccess.co.uk

What to Expect from Sensor Access in 2017

Posted in Events, News, Products

Brand new GuardPoint software

GuardPoint 10 is a 2017 complete redesign of GuardPoint Pro which seamlessly unites access, alarm and video into one platform meanwhile providing an operator friendly solution and user experience.

Before we release GP10, we are in the process of asking the opinions of our customers on the provided two options, asking for the preferable method of either modular licensing or layered licensing. See previous post for more details

For further information of GuardPoint 10 please click the link below to download the brochure:

Sensor Access Technology GuardPoint 10 Brochure

 

Print screen images of Sensor Access' new GuardPoint 10 software for customers to expect in 2017
Figure 1: image of the new GP10 Software

New release of VantagePoint software with 2 new controller types

As part of our ongoing development of VantagePoint, we will be releasing a new version of its software as of 2017. Customers should expect this to feature various operational improvements as well as support the new 2 door and 8 door controllers

The new controllers will allow VantagePoint to stay a cost effective solution for all sizes of site installation. Both controller types will have 100,000 cardholder capacities as well as an on-board web interface paving the way for simple systems to be setup, without the need for customers to install any additional software

Image showing print screens of three computers displaying the new updated features of VantagePoint for customers to expect in 2017
Figure 1: image of the new VantagePoint software

The Key Benefits of Using Fingerprint Biometrics in Access Control

Posted in News, Products, Security Tips

Are you considering whether to upgrade your access control system to use biometrics?

The key benefits of using biometrics as opposed to using standard proximity credentials are:

  1.  Fingerprint characteristics cannot be guessed and are very difficult to steal.
  2.  Your access credentials cannot be lost or forgotten.
  3. Using biometrics can be a cost saving because you do not need to buy any proximity cards or tags.
  4. Fingerprints biometric readers are simple and intuitive to use.
  5. Online biometric systems can easily be expanded. Fingerprint templates can easily be downloaded from the main system when new readers are added.
  6. Using fingerprints for access control is now more accepted amongst people due to the increased usage on devices such as  mobile phones.
  7. Using biometrics with an online access control system gives a clear audit trail with a definitive answer on who committed a security breach.
  8. Cost savings can also be made in terms of using biometrics with time and attendance. It prevents cardholders from using other people’s cards.

Both of Sensor Access’ access control solutions can be integrated with fingerprint biometrics. When considering fingerprint biometrics it is important to consider the environment and the people who will be using them. If the environment or the user’s hands are very dirty it would be worth considering readers which can read the finger a few layer of skin below the surface. For situations of where people do not want fingerprint data stored centrally, it would be worth considering storing their own fingerprint on a smart card that they carry with them. Using a smart card which carries your fingerprint means the reader itself no longer need to store the finger templates which means no limitation to its capacity.

Image of a woman scanning her smart card and using biometrics - finger print recognition

 

 

 

 

 

 

To learn more about what biometric solution sensor access can offer please visit our website
or contact us at sales@sensoraccess.co.uk and telephone +44 (0)1273 242355

Sensor’s VP-Bio: A Simple to Configure Biometric Solution

Posted in News, Products

Sensor offers a range of biometric solutions to compliment and complete the VantagePoint product range. Solutions include a range of fingerprint and iris recognition products. Typical applications of these products are found in high security buildings, server rooms airports, and any other locations where it is more efficient and beneficial to not carry a card.

Key Features: 

  • Not required to carry any cards or fobs for entry
  • Eliminating the possibility of lost credentials
  • Possible cost saving (no card population to maintain)
  • High security (used as a further level of authentication)
  • Integrated enrolment
  • External options available

The new VP-biometric reader is the most cost-effective biometric solution for the VantagePoint access control system, please see: https://www.sensoraccess.co.uk/vantage-point/

The VP-BIO reader is extremely easy to setup and use, no additional software is required for setup.  To learn how simple it is to setup, please see:
https://sensoraccess-vp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/208088569-VP-BIO-install-Guide

 

Introducing GuardPoint 10: Our New Access Control Software

Posted in News, Products

GuardPoint 10

GuardPoint 10 is our next generation access control platform which seamlessly unites access, alarm and video into one platform. Utilising state of the art technologies, GuardPoint 10 provides a powerful and elegant operator friendly solution. This updated software is a complete redesign of GuardPoint Pro which is developed in the C# Language to offer a new vibrant and engaging user experience. The new GuardPoint 10 architecture is split into 3 independent layers:

  • GUI – The graphical interface using the latest Microsoft technology.
  • Server – This implements the requests from the operator and updates the database. It also allows easy integration to external systems.
  • Network manager – Manages communication with the controllers and communicates simultaneously with controllers on multiple networks.

Scalabilty: 

GuardPoint 10 utilises a full range of intelligent control devices that can manage, 1 door, 2 door, 4 door, PoE and dedicated input and output control outputs. The system is compatible with many reading technologies using smart cards and biometric readers

 

Each software layer is independent which means the modification of one layer does not alter the other. This flexible and stable system is due for release September 2017.

To find out more see: https://www.sensoraccess.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Sensor-GP-10-A5-06.16-handout-1.pdf

To contact us requiring further information or queries, please contact us on either of the following:

Tel: +44 (0)1273 242355

Email: sales@sensoraccess.co.uk

New Format Access Control Software – USB Key

Posted in News, Products

Image of the new Sensor Access USB key next to its packagingSensor Access are pleased to inform you that all our software is now all shipped out on USB key in soft format offering ease of use and handling, reusable storage USB Key and now leaves no excuses for not backing up your system. The USB key can be written to so is an ideal place to back up your customers access control database.

To learn more or to get your hands on one, please contact us or visit our website